Flying-machine.



N0". 859,274. PATENTED JULY'Q, 1907. J. H. WILSON. FLYING MACHINE. APPLICATION IILED MAY 1. 1906.

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No. 859,274. PATENTED JULY 9, 1907. J. H. WILSON.

v FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIOH IILED MAY 1, 190B.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Jammaom WITNESSES: [/VVE/VTOR /l YTOR/VE 1/5 No. 859,274 PATENTED JULY .9. 1907. J. H. WILSON.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: {'NVENTOR UNITED STATES JOHN HOLMES WILSON, OF CARLISLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLYING-MACHINE.

Patented July 9, 1907.

' Application filed May 1,1906 Serial No. 314.697.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, J orm (Homvrss WILsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Carlisle, in the countyof Cumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Flying-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines, and has for its principal object to provide a machine of light and strong construction having a rotative means for elevating andmaintaining' the equilibrium of the machine by gyroscopic action, and which atthe same time may form a parachute during the descent of the machine. v

A further object of the invention is to provide an elevating device having adjustable fans which, when opened, may be utilized for raising the vessel, and when closed may form a rotary aeroplane to maintain equilibrium, and which may, also, form a parachute.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of this type in which the angle of the vessel to the horizontal may be readily adjusted and the inachine maintained in horizontal position, or at any angle thereto by the employment of a shiftable weight for" the purpose of altering the center of gravity of the ma chine, or altering thedegree of inclination of the blades of the respective aeroplanes and lifting devices.

A still further object ofthe invention is.to provide a machine of this type with a constantly revoluble memberwhich is placed under the control of the aeronaut or operator, and which may be adjusted to open position for the purpose of forming a lifting device, or may be'moved to closed position to present a smooth surface, so that it may act as a revoluble aeroplane.

A still further object of the invention is to provide of,,the structuremay be made without departing from the spirit, or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:Fi gure 1 is aside elevation of a flying machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofone of the aeroplanes or lifting fans showing the blades in closed position to form a parachute. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the aeroplane or lifting fan. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through a number of the blades, showing the manner in which they overlap. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the blades detached. Fig. 6 is a plan view, showing the employment of four aeroplanes or lifting fans. Fig. 7 is an ele-' vation of the lower portion of the frame illustrating a slight modification of the invention. 7

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several, figures of the drawings.

In carrying out the invention the J frame is constructed of some light but strong material, such for instance as bamboo, aluminum tubes, or the like. This frame in the present instance comprises an upper bar 10, a

lower bar 11 and central. bars 13, all of which are arranged in parallel relation, and these are connected by inclined end bars or tubes 14 and 15 and a centrally disposed central bar or tube 16. In addition to these, auxiliary hollow tubes 18 and 19 are arranged between the upper bar 10 and. the lower bar 11.

The tubes'18 and '19 extend through the' central portions ofrotary members which serve as aeroplanes, lift ing' and equilibrium maintaining devices and parachutes. Two of these members 21 and 22 are shown in the present instance,

Each of the revoluble members is of the same construction and includes a hub formed of sections'24 and 25, which are provided with ball races-26 arranged to receive anti-friction balls supported in part-by sleeves or collars 27 that are rigidly secured to the vertical tubes-18 and 19. To the uppei hub member 24 are se cured radiating strips 30 which at theirouter ends form supports for a ring 31 that is' formed of strong, lightmaterial and this ring forms an opening at the center of the revoluble member in order to permit the passage of a chute, so that the downward movement will be steady and pitching from side side will be prevented. The outer ring 33 of the aeroplane or fan is, also, formed of strong light weight material, and is arranged in a plane current of air when the device is clbsed to form a para- 1 somewhat below the horizontal plane of the ring 31. 4

The frame and ring are connected'by solid spokes 34,

formed 'of steel or otherstrong material, and on these spokes are pivoted blades 35. The blades 35 be formed of sheet aluminum or'of light frames covered with silk or the like, and these are so arranged as to slightly overlap at their meeting edges when closed. The blades may be adjusted to open position, the angular position of the blade being. under the controlof the aeronaut, or being connected with an automatically operated adjusting-member, the position of which changes in accordance with the angle of the machine to the horizontal; I 1

To the lower hub bearings 25 is secured a spoked' wheel 37 and a disk 38 and'said disk is connected to the outer rim 33 by means of spokes 39 which are tangentially disposed. This permits the lower disk 38 to transmit considerable driving force to the combinedrotary aeroplanes, equilibrium maintaining device,

lifting fans and parachute, and the latterwill receive constant movement from'both its center and its periphery. I,

Mounted slidably on the tubes 18 and 19 is a collar 40 I which is connected by rods 41 to a-ring 42, the latter 0 being connected to small ears or lugs 43 on theseveral blades 35-, and by moving the collar in the direction of the length of the tube, the angular position of the blades may be adjusted, or the blades may be closed to form a.

rotary aeroplane or parachute. The blades being all connected to the ring 42 all receive exactly the same movement, and are maintained at the same angle.

The slidable collar 40 is arr'an'gedto be moved in one jdirection by a spring 44, and in the opposite direction by a flexible cord or chain 45 which is connected to an operating lever, 46 arranged immediately in front of the 'aeronaut, and by moving this lever'the blades of both of the aeroplanes or fans may be simultaneously ad-' justed to precisely the same extent, so that the lifting force exerted will be precisely the same at both ends of the machine, or, as shown in Fig. 7, the member 45 may be icohnected to a slidable weight or collar member 46, which inay be moved by gravity, or may be shifted by the aeronaut for the purpose of decreasing the angle of one set of blades and increasing the angle of the other set of blades, so as to render the lifting forces unequal.

This, in some 'cases', proves of advantage when it is desired to automatically retain the vessel in horizontal position, or if one end should be depressed, the slidable weight moving downward by gravity toward the de- 3 5 pressed end will effect slight closing of the blades at the higher end,-and corresponding opening of the blades at the lowermost end, so that as the lifting force is increased at the lowermost, end, that end will rise and the level will be automatically restored.

At the lower central portion of the frame is arranged a motor 47, the motor being preferably of the internal combustion type, and the main shaft of the motor carries a'sproeket wheel 48, which transmits motion'to a sprocket wheel 49 by meansof. a link belt 50. The

sprocket wheel 49 is secured to ahollow shaft 51 that is mounted on the horizontally disposed shaft 52, the lat {ter being supported in suitable bearings in the frame.. The inner or forward end of the hollow shaft carries a bevel gear 53, the hub of which is arranged to form a friction clutch, and this gear intermeshes with a bevel pinion 54 mounted on a short vertically disposed shaft 55 that is also mounted in-bearing on the frame. The:

shaft 55 carries a gear 56 which meshes with a gear 57 on asecondshaft 58, the gears being-of equal size, so that.

55 the two shafts are turned at the same speed, but in opposite directions. At the upper ends of the shafts 55- and 58 are small sprocket wheels 60' and 61, respectively, and these are connected by link bolts 62 and 63 tothe sprocket wheels 37 of the revoluble members, so that the I 60 latter. will be turned at equal speeds, but in opposite directions to each other, said rotary members being constantly driven so longas the motor is in operation. I The shaft52 carries a slidable friction clutch 64 which may be moved into and-out of engagement with I 65 the clutching-member carried the bevel gear:53,

and at the front of the machine, the shaft 52 is provided with a propeller 65 and above the propeller 65 isa second propeller 66 mounted on a suitable shaft 67, the

shafts 52 and .67 being connected by suitable belt' wheels and a crossed-belt 68.

The shafts of the propeller are driven in opposite directions to each other, and the propellingbladesare of equal diameter, so that any tendency to sidewise movement is corrected. The propeller driving connection is under the control of a lever 70 that connects with the friction clutch, so that when the machine has risen to the proper height, the clutches may be brought into play to gradually start the movement of the propellers. I I

At the rear of the'machine, the bars 15 and 13 serve as supports for a rudder post 71 carrying a suitable rudder 72 which generally is formed of alight frame covered with oiled silk or like material. The rudder post carries steering arms 75 which are connected by Y flexible cords or chains 76 to steering handles 77: that v are disposed at the upper end of a steering post 78 immediately in front of the aeronaut.

The aeronauts seat 80 is slidably mounted on. the lower bar or tube 11, so that the aeronaut may shift his position, and by thus altering the center of gravity of the machine may change its angle to the horizontal, or this may be done by causing the adjustable vanes or blades in one or other of the rotary aeroplanes to open wider than the other, thereby causing one to exat a greater. lifting power than the other.

- The method ,of operating this flying machine is as follows: Th'e apparatus is so arranged as to assume a horizoptal position. The rotary aeroplanes are caused to revolve by means of the motor 47. The adjustable vanes 'or blades of the rotary aeroplanes are preferably then moved to engage the frictiongclutch, so that power is transmitted through' the shaft 52 to the two propellers, causing them to revolve and draw the machine forward; The aeronaut by shifting his weight somewhat" to the rear may cause the front of the ma} chine to-be tilted upward slightly, so that the rotary aeroplanes when closed will act to maintain the machine in elevated position while the propellers draw' the-same forward. The rotary aeroplanes are in constant motion, while the machine is-in flight, and, by their gyr'oscopic a'ction tend to maintain the equilibrium of themachine in the air, keeping the machine. from rolling or diving, and in the desired course.

causing it to travel steadily In practice, any' even number of rotary aeroplanes i may be employed, and in'Ifig. 6 a slight modification of the invention, including four rotaryaeroplanes is illustrated.

The apparatus may be employed for carrying a pas- I senger'or other load, or may be usedifor raising and" ,maintaining' at any desired elevation the; antenna of" a wireless telegraph station, or .for'the wireless transmission of electrical energy for any purpose, or for the discharge of electrical energy in the atmosphere, or

for the purposeoiraising recording instruments to ascertain the condition oi'the atriiosphereat high altitudesf e It is to beunderstood that the invention-is not limiteql to the described means for transmitting power to the r'otators and propellers, as any kind of motor mech anism, and any form of power transmitting devices may be utilized for the purpose, and'the vanes may be adjusted in difierentmanner, without departing from the spirit or scope of .the invention.

1. In a flying machine, thecombination with is frame, of a plurality of rotary aeroplanes, means for revolving the same in opposite directions, respectively, each device including in its constructions. series 'of plvotally mounted vanes, and means for automatically adjusting the angular positions of such vanes. 1

2. In a flying machine, the, combination with a frame,

in its construction a series of pivotally mounted vanes,

and means for automatically adjusting the angular posi -itions of such vanes.

3. In a -flying machine, a revoluble hub or sleeve, a spokedring secured to the upper portion thereof, a rim arranged in a horizontalplane somewhat below the plane of the ring, radial spokes connecting the ring'and rim,

vanes pivoted on thespo ke's and arranged to overlap when in closed position to form an aeroplane, a disk secured to the lower portion of the hub, tangent spokes extending from the disk to'the rimfa slidable collar, a ring to which all of the valves are connected, and arms extending between said ring and tliecollar, substantially as described.

4. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a slidable weight thereon, a plurality of rotary aeroplanes,

each having angular-1y adjustable vanes, and means connectlng such vanes toltlie slidable weight to automatically adjust the angular positions of the vanes in accordance with the'angle of the machineto the horizontal.

In testimony that'I claim the foregoing as my" own, I the presence .of two JOHN HOLMES WILSON.

Witnesses:

M. M. DOUGHERTY, G. B. BIXLER. l 

